Loan brings smiles where there were only tears
Baking bread over an open fire can be hard work for a woman in Afghanistan, but for Nafesa and her mother, it was a means to supporting a family of eight.
"Behind every smile is a tear," goes an old adage, but when life becomes full of tears, as it was for a young Afghan woman, it is miserable indeed.
Nafesa, lives with her family of eight. She was able to go to school until the 8th grade, but could not continue her studies due to financial concerns and her family's cultural restrictions.
Nafesa was cut off from the world. She and her family lived in squalid conditions. With no money for a proper wardrobe, Nafesa wore her mother's clothes. While many of today's young people are involved in activities and are interested in fashion and their career, Nafesa just wished to have a happy family and to be able to remove the dark clouds from her family's household.
Her mother was the supporter of the family. She worked hard, baking bread over a hot, open fire every day. As hard as she worked though, she could not earn enough to support her family, even with Nafesa's help.
Through MEDA and partner Women for Women International Microfinance Institution (WWIMFI), they decided to apply for a loan of 10,000 Af (about US $200) to upgrade their work space. Slowly, they saw their lives improve as they began selling 25 to 30 loaves of bread each day.
Nafesa is thankful for the opportunity to improve her family's situation, and now knows that WWIMFI is there to help them grow their business.
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